Strap and fastener.



J'. R. HAMILTON.

STRAP AND FASTENER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 11;, 1909.

988,090. 1 Patented Mar.28,1911.

A are,

. mechanism for uniting the terminals or JOHN RAYMOND HAMILTON, OF ST.JOHN, NEW BRUNSWICK, CANADA.

STRAP AND FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented luar, 28, 1911,

Application filed January 18, 1909. Serial Ito-472,885.

The primary object of my invention is to produce an improved strap,preferably of metal, wherein provision is made for uniting and securingtogether temporarily or permanently, as desired, the opposite endsthereof when the strap is bent or doubled upon itself so as to bringsaid endstogether.

Another object is to produce fastening parts of one or more objects,such as the ends of a strap, or the ends of a plurality of straps.

Anotherobject is to produce fastening mechanism of a distinctivecharacter, which may positively identify the article or articles towhich it is attached and from which it cannot be removed or disengagedwithout either destroying the fastening mechanism or so far mutilatingor changing its appearance as to afford evidence that the fasteningmechanism has been tampered with.

My strap may be made of different metals and in a variety of shapes,weights, and sizes, and is applicable to numerous important and varieduses.

to which it may be applied, it is deemed sufiicient to specify that itmay be employed as a paper fastener, a leg band for poultry, and a cardoor seal.

My device when made of light metalas in paper fasteners may be readilyapplied by simple manipulation without the aid of a tool, or for heayierand rougher uses, as in car door seals, its bending may require the useof pliers. The force necessary to apply it, however, has nothing to dowith the nature of the invention itself, the distinctive featureswhereof are presented in the various-forms of embodiment to which it maybe reduced, and irrespective of the Weight of metal in which those formsare embodied;

In the accompanying drawing, which constitutes a part of thisspecification, Fi re I is a perspective view of a simple an preferredform of embodiment. o my device, showing it of about the size anddimensions suitable for 'a paper fastener, and .in flat;

form before it is bent into service. Fig. II is a perspective'view ofthe sub ect matter of Fig. I, showing the strap bent to bring the tongueand. slotted ends opposite each other and in position ready forengagement. Fig. III illustrates upon an enlarged scale the engagementof the tongue and slotted end of the strap, as shown in Fig. II. Fig. IVis an end view of the subject matter of Fig. III illustrating the tonguebent down upon the slotted end of the strap. Fig. V is a transversesection of the tongue detached illustrating the angularity of unction ofits two sides and one of the projections formed in said angle. Fig. VIis a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the subject matter ofFig. III illustrating the engagement of the tongue and the slot lip.Fig. VII is a top plan view of the subject matter of Fig. IV. Fi VIII isa front elevation of a modified orm of tongue, showing one provided withoppositely serrated edges instead of the feather slotted edge shown, forexample, in Fig. III. Fig.

' IX is a perspective view similar to Fig. III

but illustrating a perfectly smooth and curved tongue with a slot curvedto fit it.

Fig. X is a view similar to Fig. VII illushating the tongue shown inFig. IX bent down upon the slotted end of the strap, and illustrative ofthe manner in which it is expanded and kinked by bending to fill andgrip the ends of the slot. Fig. XI is a plan view of a strap providedwith a ter Not to attempt to enumerate all of the usesminally disposedtongue as a substitute for the struck up ton eshown in the previousfigures. Fig. XI is a view similar to Fi I showinga strap provided witha struc up tongue and tongue slot at each end. Fig. XIII illustrates amode of applying the strap shown in Fig. XII and of utilizing the tongueand the slot at each end thereof for fastening the ends of the straptogether. Figs. XIV, XV, and XVI illustrate the strap shown in Fig. XIIutilized. as an envelop closure in three different modes of application.

Referring to the numerals on the drawin 1 indicates my strap, whichbeing ma e preferably of fiat flexible metal of any kind and Wei htsuitable and preferred for the use to which it, is intended to beapplied, is characterized by the presence near one end of aslot-engaging tongue 2, and near the other of a tongue-receivlngaperture 3. The

three elements specified are present in every form of. embodiment of mydevice whose modifications contemplate variations in the shape anddisposition of the tongue and in the tongue, shown in Fig. VIII, downupon the shape and disposition of the aperture 3, t which is made toreceive the tongue when the strap is a plied in service, the shape anddimensions of the body of the strap 1 being variable at pleasure. Thedisposition of the tongue to the strap is susceptible of any desiredvariation. In all of the figures of the drawing except Fig. XI is showna tongue which is cut out of the body of the strap and struck up to aposition substantially at right angles to it, in which position itpresents itself for ready insertion into the aperture in the oppositeend of the strap when said end of the strapis bent over and brought intoposition to permit the tongue to enter the aperture. The tongue ispreferably made, for reasons which will presently appear, angular incross section, as shown in Fig. V, or curved in cross section, as. shownin Fig. IX, for example, that is the distance between the edges of thetongue is less than the width of the material of the tongue,rand theaperture 3 is preferably a slot which is made to conform to the shape ofthe tongue for whose accommodation it is provided. Whether the slot beangular, as clearly shown in Fig. I or on an enlarged scale in Fig. VII,or whether it be in the form of an arc, as shown in Figs. IX and X,there is always present in it a slot lip 5 (see Fig. VI) which entersthe concave side of the tongue and which may be utilized for engagementof projections, upon the tongue extending toward it. Such projec .tionsare indicated by the numeral 6, and may be formed, for example, bypuncturing the metal of the tongue at intervals. The projections 6afford by engagement with the slot lip 5 means for uniting the tongueend of the strap to the slotted end thereof. In addition to or inlieu'of such means for uniting the two ends of the strap, engaging meansupon the opposite edges of the tongue may be employed. For example,feather slits 7 in the tongue may be employed, as shown in Fig. III, orserrations 8, as shown iii Fi VIII.

It should he observed that while the slot and tongue connection with orwithout the projections 6, the slot-engaging slits 7, or the serrations8 perform the function of ad justably uniting the two ends of the strap,

they are most readily adjustable when the tongue is of the smooth formshown in Fig. IV, and that the security of permanent union is obtainedby bending the end of the tongue down upon the slotted end of the strap,as shown, for example, in Fig; VII. As shown in that figure, the edgesof the tongue next adjacent to a bend 9 therein are expanded beyond theends of the slot and serve to positively secure the ends of the straptogether. This function is also developed by the serrations 8 in bendingoeaoao the strap after it has passed through its slot. A smooth tongue10 formed for engagement with an are shaped slot 11 is shown in Fig. IX.The effect of bending the end of the tongue 10 upon the slotted end ofthe strap after insertion of the tongue into its slot 11 is to force outthe edges of the tongue into engagement with the ends of the slot, andto produce in the tongue, as shown in Fig. X, a kink 14:. This kink ischaracteristic of each form of my device, being shown at 9 in Fig. VIIas well as at 14 in Fig. X, but in a less pronounced degree. It cannotbe removed after being once formed in the tongue, and constitutes ameans of security wherever a permanent union is desired.

When once my device has been permanently attached to an object by thebending and kinking of the tongue it cannot be removed therefrom withoutdestroying the device, or without mutilating the kinked tongue in a wayto constitute it into a telltale. This feature is of special value incertain applications of my device, as, for example, in car door sealsand leg bands. For the purpose of temporary adjustment, the smoothtongue, shown in Fig. IX, 1s best adapted before it is bent and kinked.Afterward it lends itself most efiectively to permanency of adjustment.It may be observed in this connection that the slotted and serratedforms of tongue shown in Figs. III and VII, for instance, are adjustablewithin their respective slots, provided that they do not efi'ect a closefit transversely therein. If the fit is a loose one, the tongue may bemoved back and forth in its slot until it is bent and thereby secured bythe spreading of the tongue. See Figs. IV, VII, and X. If the slitted orserrated tongue fit its slot closely, or if the feathers defined by theslits 7 be spread before the tongue is inserted, itis not susceptible ofreverse adjustment therein, but the slits or serrations afford inthemselves means of engagement with the ends of the slot that issubstantially permanent.

In Fig. XI I show a slight modification of the form of embodiment of myinvention, in which-a strap 15 is provided at one end with a slot 16,and at the other with terminally disposed slot-engaging tongue 17 the respective shapes preferred of the tongue and l slot being conformable toeach other. The manner of cooperation of the tongue and slot isidentical with that of the tongues and slots previously described. Thisform of strap being simple, light, and easy of application, especiallyadapts itself to use for a leg band, although its use for that purposeis not to be regarded as exclusive of the other forms of strapillustrated.

In Fig. XII, I illustrate a strap 18 which is provided at each end witha tongue, that at one end being indicated by the numeral if 19 and thatat the other by the numeral 20. Thesetongues are both preferably struckup from the body of the strap, thereby defining therein at one end anaperture 21 and at the other end an aperture 22. Adjacent to the tongue19 is a slot 23, and adjacent to the tongue 20 is a slot 24. The slots23 and 24' are designed to accommodate the one or the other of thetongues. If, for instance, the tongue 20 is designed to enter the slot23, the tongue 19 will enter theaperture 22, and contrariwise. When thestrap 18 is applied as a paper fastener, to which use it is especiallyadaptable, both the tongues 19 and 20 pass in opposite directionsthrough the papers or the like which are to besecured together by them.When'the ends that carry the two tongues are pressed toward each other,if the tongue 19 enters the slot 24, the tongue 20 will enter theaperture 21, as has been stated. Both tongues, after being passedthroughthe papers and through a respective slot and aperture, may bethen bentdown upon the outside of the strap 18, as shown at 25 and 26 in Fig.XIII, when the slot-engaging tongue will be kinked after the mannerpreviously described with reference to the single tongued strap. Inoperation, therefore, the strap 18 affords a double and secure fasteningwhen applied as shown in Fig. XIII, with a security of permanentattachment equal to the single tongue fastener. The strap 18 is alsosusceptible of a convenient double use, being applicable, like a staple,for closure of envelops, as suggested in the three different modes ofits application Xpistaple shown in Figs. XIV, XV, and

It is obvious that the fastening mechanism employed for uniting the endsof my strap may be employed for uniting a plurality of objects which is,as specified, contemplated within the purview of my invention.

It is my purpose not to limit myself to the exact details ofconstruction herein shown and described, but to reserve the right tomodify and varythe same within the scope of the invention as hereinspecified and defined in the appended claims.

\Vhat I claim is:

l. A flexible metallic strap in one piece, provided with a slot at oneend, and a flexible slot-engaging tongue at the other, adapted to effecta union when the strap is bent or doubled upon itself, so as to bringthe tongue and slot into engagement, and means which is a part of thestrap itself, provided for adjustably uniting the tongue and slot.

2. A flexible metallic strap in one piece, provided with a slot at oneend, and a flexible slot-engaging tongue at the other, adapted to effecta union when the strap is bent or doubled upon itselfso as to bring thetongue and slot into engagement, and means which is a part of the strapitself, provided for adjustably .uniting the tongue and slot, said meanscomprising slot-engaging means upon the ton e. v

3. A flexible metallic strap in one piece, provided with a slot at oneend, and a flexible slot-engaging tongue at the other, adapted to effecta union when the strap is bent or doubled upon itself so as to bring thetongue "and slot into engagement, means which is a part of the strapitself, provided for adjustably uniting the tongue and slot, said meanscomprising projections upon the tongue, and a slot lip for engagement ofprojections upon the tongue.

4. The combination with a strap provided with a slot, of a flexibletongue upon the strap adapted to enter said slot when the strap is bent,and to be bent thereafter into permanent engagement with the strap, andmeans for permanently engaging the tongue in the slot.

5. The combination with a strap provided with a slot, of a flexibletongue fitting the slot and adapted to enter the same when the strap isbent to effect their engagement, the distance between the edges of saidtongue being less than the width of the tongue, whereby, when the tongueis bent above the slot, as described, it will expand into se cureengagement with the ends of the slot. W V

6. Fastening mechanism for uniting parts of one or more objects, whichconsists of the combination of one part provided with a slot, of anotherpart provided with a slotengaging flexible tongue, said slot and tonguebeing fitted to each other, the distance between the edges of saidtongue being less than the width of the tongue, whereby, when the tongueis bent above the slot, as described, it will form a permanent kink inthe tongue, substantially for the pur-',

pose specified.

7. A flexible metallic strap in one piece, provided'with a slot near oneend, and a slotfitting and engaging flexible tongue at or near the otherend adapted to effect a union when the strap is bent or doubled uponitself, so asto bring the tongue and slot into engagement, and meanswhich are a part of the strap itself, provided for adjustably andpermanently uniting the tongue and slot..

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

JOHN RAYMOND HAMILTON.

Witnesses:

H. H. BRITLAIN, C. C. HAMM.

